Samuel s



S. S. MARLEY.

ENVBLOP MGISTBNBR.

(No Model.)

No. 597,010. Patented Jan. l1,1898.

WLM/wouw l ffm'.

1H: cams Firms cn mow-uma, WASHINGTON. D4 c.

UNITED STATES ATsNT trice,

SAMUEL S. h'lARLEY, OF VILMINGTON, DELAWARE, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO HENRY B. DUNCAN, OF SAME PLACE.

ENVELOPMOlSTEJEF.

SPEGFI'CATION 'forming part of Letters Patent No. 597,010, dated January 11, 1898. Application filed July 8x189'7. Serial No. 643,336. (No model.)

'b all whom t may concern.-

Be it known that I, SAMUEL S. ManLnv,'of lVilmington, in the county of New Castle and State of Delaware, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Envelop-Moisten ers, of which the following is a specification.

The object of my invention is to provide efiicient and expeditious means for moistening the flaps of envelops and the like preparatory to sealing.

My invention is illustrated in the accom panying drawings, wherein- Figure l is a perspective view. Fig. 2 is a vertical section in a plane indicated by the line 2 2 in Fig. l. Fig. 3 is a vertical section indicated by the line 3 3 in Fig. l.. A

A is a thin ilat platen having, preferably, substantially the contour of the gummed portion of an envelop-flap. This platen is coniposed of a sheet-metal base a and a pad l), of felt or other similar moisture absorbing and retaining materialwhich has the capacity of conducting Water by capillary attraction and `which l will hereinafter refer to as the capillary pad. y

The capillary pad l) covers practically the entire upper surface of the sheet-metal base a and is held in place and secured to the base by bending over or overturning the edges o of the base, as shown.

B is a water-reservoir rising from the platen, which is covered at its top by any suitable stopper, such as cl, and secured at its bottom, by soldering or otherwise, to the metallic base o of the platen A and above the capillary pad. The capillary pad b extends beneath the reservoir and constitutes the bottom thereof, so that consequently the Water in the reservoir rests upon the material of which the pad is composed. The sides of the Water-reservoir B are preferably permanently secured at its lower end to the metallic base of the platen, asbefore stated; but there is a space on the front side of the bottom of the reservoir, between the same and the metallic base c, constituting an opening for the outiiow of Water. This opening, however, is iilled with the material of the capillary pad.

As a consequence of the described construction the Water Within the reservoir is drawn from the same only by capillary attraction. As the result the capillary pad is kept moist so long as there is Water in the reservoir, and the water is drawn from the reservoir as needed solely by capillary attraction, the Wa 5 5 ter thus being replenished in proportion to the extent to which the moisture is evaporated from or Withdrawn from the pad.

The manner in which the envelop-moisteuer is used is apparent. The platen of the mois- 6o tener is inserted under the flap of an envelop when in position for sealing, the liat thin construction of the platen and attached pad adapting them for this purpose, and the flap is then pressed down upon the face of the capillary pad, whereby the gum on the envelopflap is moistened. The platen is then withdrawn by a sliding movement from beneath the flap, which is then pressed down upon the body of the envelop. If the envelop is the 7o top of a pile of envelope, it may be removed from the pile when the platen is still beneath the flap. The envelop-moistener may then be used as a rubber to seal the moistened liap, the under side of the base a being even and smooth for this purpose and the upwardly projecting reservoir B serving as a handle.

lVith the aid of this appliance envelops can be sealed very rapidly, the moistener being manipulated by one hand and the envelops by So the other hand. The moistener is of light Weight and compact, and therefore readily manipulated.

I claim as my invention" l. An envelop moistener comprising, in 85 combination, a platen having an exposed capillary pad on its upper face and adapted to be inserted under the flap of an envelop when in position for sealing, and a Water-reservoir rising from said platen and having an open- 9o ing at its bottom and front into which said capillary pad ,extends so that the said pad is in contact with the Water in said reservoir, substantially as set forth.

2. An envelop moistener comprising, in combination, a platen having an exposed capillary pad on its upper face and adapted to be inserted under the flap of an envelop when in position for sealing, and a water-reservoir rising from said platen, the bottom of said 10o reservoir consisting of the said capillary paid With which the Water in said reservoir is in immediate Contact, substantially is set forth.

3. An envelop-rnoistener having, in combination, si base constituting a flat platen, an exposed capillary pad on its upper face conforming in outline to the gummed portion of an envelop-f1ap, said platen and attached pad being adapted to he inserted under the lla p of an envelop when in position for sealing, and a Waterreservoir secured to the hase, rising therefrom, and having an opening at its bottom and front, the capillary pad extending into and closing this opening so that all the Water in the moistener is in said pad and in said reservoir rabove the pad and the Water is drawn from the reservoir by capillary attraction, the said reservoir also lconstituting a handle for manipulating the device, substantially as set forth.

In Witness whereof I have hereunto signed my :naine in the presence of two subscribing Witnesses.

SAMUEL S. MARLEY,

Wiinesses:

HENRY C. CONRAD, BALDWIN SPRINGER. 

